Larkspur path segment opens for cycling, walking

Another link in the North-South Greenway network of paths is now open to bicyclists and pedestrians in Central Marin.

Transportation officials gathered with cycling and walking advocates on Friday to celebrate the $1.7 million path extension that runs along the west side of Old Redwood Highway near Highway 101 in Larkspur.

Connecting to the Corte Madera Creek bridge to the north, the route leads users to the Larkspur Landing area, where there are destinations such as shops, eateries, a movie theater and access to Golden Gate Ferry, the SMART train station and miles of more path.

Larkspur City Councilmember Gabe Paulson, a member of the boards governing the Sonoma-Marin Area Rail Transit and the Transportation Authority of Marin, said Larkspur Landing is Central Marin’s transportation hub.

“I really want to see this area succeed as a multimodal site for transportation, and I think this path plays a critical role,” Paulson said. “I think we need to do a good job promoting it. We built it, now we need people to come.”

The path is 8 feet wide with 2-foot buffers on either side. From the bridge, it extends south to the pedestrian crossing that spans Highway 101 near Industrial Way. That pedestrian crossing connects to Nellen Avenue in Corte Madera.

The project is part of the long-envisioned North-South Greenway, designed to run from the Golden Gate Bridge into Sonoma County and potentially beyond, and the San Francisco Bay Trail network.

This segment was the second phase of North-South Greenway gap closure project. The first phase constructed the bridge that crosses Corte Madera Creek.

While the North-South Greenway is incomplete, transportation officials reached a different milestone with the conclusion of this portion, said Anne Richman, TAM executive director.

“This segment is the last of $65 million of Regional Measure 2 funds invested in pathways invested in Marin,” Richman said.

Regional Measure 2, the $1 bridge toll increase that was approved in 2004, supported the construction of a number of other projects, including the path from San Rafael through Cal Park Hill Tunnel, the bridge over Sir Francis Drake Boulevard and Corte Madera Creek, Richman said.

“This piece of pathway is adding to that network,” Richman said. “We’re pretty excited about that.”

Richman said this latest project also called for repaving the road, straightening parking and replacing guardrails. New street lighting also is planned.

The path work is not done. Larkspur city officials are looking to extend the path south to Wornum Drive, where cyclists and pedestrians will be able to more easily link to routes through Corte Madera and south.

“Once you get down to Wornum, you match up to two beautiful paths: One goes south and one goes west,” said Bill Whitney, project manager at TAM.

Engineers last estimated several years ago that the project would cost $2 million to $2.5 million to construct.

Julian Skinner, Larkspur public works director, said city staff plans to seek a grant from Caltrans’ Active Transportation Program to support construction.